Injection molding machine having a modular construction which comprises a plurality of drive groups

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an injection molding machine having a plurality of modular drive groups which are arranged on the injection molding side and on the mold closure side. According to the invention, at least one of the drive groups is connected to the injection molding machine via at least one multifunction element which, as an interface, makes it possible to optionally connect different types of drives, e.g., electromechanical drives, hydraulic drives, pneumatic drives, linear motors or electromagnetic drives as a drive group in an otherwise unmodified injection molding machine. Independent of the respective drive, space for the respectively used drive groups is provided on the injection molding machine in order to accommodate each type of drive. As a result, the structural requirements for an increased modularity are accomplished by using components which, to a great extent, are identical.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an injection molding machine for processingplastics materials and other plasticisable substances, such as ceramicor pulverulent substances, having a modular structure comprising aplurality of driving groups.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such modular structure is indeed not known in its entirety from priorart, but it is known from EP 0 576 925 A1, for example, to provideliquid-cooled electrical servomotors within individual driving groups ofan injection molding machine, both on the side of the injection moldingunit and on the mold-closing side. Indeed, such motors may therefore beoptionally used for an injection molding machine, but it is necessary tochange the actual connecting elements on the injection molding machineif other drive types are used. In consequence, numerous parts have to beprovided, especially in the factory of the manufacturer, in order toconstruct machines totally in accordance with the wishes of thecustomers. In addition, this leads to longer delivery times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the basis of this prior art, the basic object of the presentinvention is to provide the structural prerequisites for increasedmodularity with an injection molding machine of the initially mentionedtype, using largely identical component parts.

This object is achieved by an injection molding machine for processingplastics materials having a modular structure comprising a plurality ofdriving groups. The injection molding machine includes:

a machine base,

a mold closing unit having

a stationary mold carrier connected to the machine base,

a movable mold carrier, which provides a mold clamping chamber betweenitself and the stationary mold carrier

at least one injection mold, the mold parts of which can be accommodatedin the mold clamping chamber on the stationary mold carrier and on themovable mold carrier,

a closing mechanism as a first driving group for moving the movable moldcarrier towards the stationary mold carrier and away from saidstationary mold carrier so as to close the injection mold, and

force transmitting means for transmitting substantially the closingforce from the closing mechanism to the stationary mold carrier,

and an injection molding unit, having

a plasticizing unit, which comprises a plasticizing cylinder and afeeding means, which is accommodated in the plasticizing cylinder, aswell as a nozzle mouth on the end face, which mouth lies in an injectionaxis,

a carrier block, which is disposed on the machine base so as to bedisplaceable along the injection axis, and on which block theplasticizing unit is detachably mounted,

an injection bridge,

a metering drive for the feeding means of the plasticizing unit as athird driving group, which is connectable to the injection bridge,

at least one nozzle moving drive, which is axis-parallel to theinjection axis, as a fourth driving group for moving the nozzle mouthtowards the injection mold and away from said mold, and

at least one injecting means, which is axis-parallel to the injectionaxis, as a fifth driving group for the movement of the feeding meansrelative to the plasticizing cylinder,

wherein at least one of first driving groups is connectable to theinjection molding machine via at least one multifunctional element,which serves as an interface selectively for the connection of at leasttwo different drive types selected from the group consisting ofelectromechanical drives, hydraulic drives, pneumatic drives, linearmotors and electromagnetic drives as the driving group with an otherwiseunchanged injection molding machine, whereby space is made available forthe driving groups, independently of the particular drive, on theinjection molding machine for accommodating each type of drive.

Because of additional structural outlay, possibilities for connection tothe parts of the injection molding machine are already provided in thepreliminary section, so that the remaining parts of the injectionmolding machine already satisfy the various requirements of thedifferent drive types, either hydraulically, pneumatically,electromechanically, as a linear motor or electromagnetically. If thisadditional outlay is provided during construction, this laterfacilitates the manufacture and reduces the additional outlay for eachmachine since, without creating greater problems, compliance with thewishes of the individual customers can be achieved. In this respect, themore interfaces are provided for different drive types, the quicker themachine can be delivered. Furthermore, this modularity providespossibilities for the customer himself to optimize the injection moldingmachine depending on the injection molded product. Thus, for example,for two-color injecting or for a large throughput, it may beadvantageous to operate the injection molding unit electrically, whileit may be advantageous, because of the speed with a small throughput, tooperate the injection molding unit hydraulically. Because of the givenmodularity, the customer himself can even make the adaptation requiredfor this.

For example, a rotation transmitting element may be provided in theinjection bridge, which element is provided so that a rotary motor isconnected to the rear end, or a driving wheel can be secured at adifferent location, so that this element is actuatable via atransmission, In such case, sufficient space is made available for allof the drives on the injection molding machine.

Structural elements may be provided in the injection bridge, whichelements are even passive depending on the drive type and are not neededat all, but, on the other hand, they create the possibility of changingthe drive type without any problems. In such case, the space requiredfor the different drive types can be achieved when these structuralparts, which are required for the different drive typos, can be combinedin a very small space.

The movable mold carrier may be provided on the mold closing side, sothat both electromechanical drives and hydraulic or pneumatic drives canbe connected to the same structural parts. It should not beunderestimated here that the structural part has to be prepared in thisrespect for the various requirements, whereby the tightness for thehydraulics has to be ensured in the same way as the introduction offorces has to be ensured for the electromechanical drive.

Additional advantages are found in the sub-claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the injection molding unit takenin the direction of the injection bridge, all of the driving groupsbeing hydraulically operated;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the injection molding unit ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 2, the metering drivebeing effected electrically via a high-torque motor;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 2, the feeding meansbeing rotated by a servomotor via a transmission;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5—5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the injection molding unit inthe region of the transmission taken along the line 6—6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the injection bridge andtransmission;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 2 with a modifiedinjection bridge and hydraulic injection;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 8 with anelectromechanical injection unit;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view according to FIG. 8, the nozzle movingdrive being a linear motor;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partially in cross-section, of aplasticizing cylinder, mounted on the carrier block, with an hydraulicdrive for a closure nozzle;

FIG. 12 is a view according to FIG. 11 with an electromechanical drivefor the closure nozzle;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view, partially in cross-section, of anhydraulically operated mold closing unit;

FIG. 14 is a view according to FIG. 13, all of the drives being effectedelectromechanically;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a mold closing unit having anelectromechanical closing mechanism and a hydraulic means for applyingthe closing force; and

FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the injection molding machine providedwith the driving groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is now explained more detailed by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments areonly examples which should not limit the inventive concept to onespecific actual arrangement

The injection molding machine is used, for example, as a plasticinjection molding machine for processing plasticisable substances, suchas plastics materials, pulverulent or ceramic substances, for example.According to FIG. 16, the injection molding machine has a modularstructure provided with a plurality of driving groups, some of which areassociated with the mold closing unit F and some of which are associatedwith the injection molding unit S. Mold closing unit F and injectionmolding unit are disposed on the machine base 35.

The mold closing unit F has a stationary mold carrier 34 and a movablemold carrier 13. A mold clamping chamber R is formed between the twomold carriers, and molding parts of an injection mold M on thestationary mold carrier 34 and on the movable mold carrier 13 areaccommodated in said chamber. The mold closing unit has a closingmechanism C, which simultaneously represents the first driving group 100for moving the movable mold carrier towards the stationary mold carrier34 and away from said stationary mold carrier. A first supportingelement 25 is provided to support the closing mechanism C, and anadditional supporting element may also be provided for “serial closing”.The movable mold carrier is transferred for the mold closure via thefirst driving group 100 during this serial closing, while the closingforce is applied by a separate driving group. The second driving group200 serves as the device for applying the closing force and is used,more especially, when the first driving group 100 has transferred themovable mold carrier 13 for mold closure of the injection mold assemblyM. If necessary, however, the first driving group 100 may be combinedwith the second driving group 200 by one and the same driving group, andsuch is possible, for example, more especially with an hydraulicsolution.

Force transmitting means are provided in order to transmit forces, whichare substantially produced during the application of the closing force,from the first supporting element 25 to the stationary mold carrier 34.These force transmitting means are the bars 86, which simultaneouslyserve as the guide means for the closing mechanism C and the movablemold carrier 13. Other elements may also be provided as the forcetransmitting element, such as so-called “C-shaped clamps”, for example,which conduct the forces, which occur during closure and duringinjection molding, around the mold clamping chamber R from thestationary mold carrier 34 to the movable mold carrier 13, as is knownto the person skilled in the art.

According to FIG. 1, the injection molding unit S has a plasticizingunit P, which includes a plasticizing cylinder 11 and a feeding means12, which is accommodated in the plasticizing cylinder. At the end face,the injection molding unit terminates with a nozzle body 52, whichincludes a nozzle mouth 52 a, which lies in an injection axis s—s (FIGS.11, 12). The plasticizing unit P is detachably mounted on a carrierblock 10, which is displaceably disposed on the machine base 35 alongthe injection axis s—s.

Furthermore, the injection molding unit S includes an injection bridge14 as well as a metering drive 41, 41′, 41″ for the feeding means 12 andthe plasticizing unit P as the third driving group 300, which isconnectable to the injection bridge 14. The metering drive is moreespecially used to rotate the feeding means, since this feeding means ismainly a feeding screw. If a feeding piston is provided here, the thirddriving group 300 coincides with the injecting means 43 of the fifthdriving group 500.

At least one drive, which is axis-parallel to the injection axis s—s, isprovided as the injecting means—but a plurality of drives are providedmainly to achieve a symmetrical introduction of force—which drive servesas the fifth driving group 500 for the movement of the feeding means 12relative to the plasticizing cylinder 11. Because of this axial movementof the feeding means, the plasticized material situated in front of thefeeding screw is injected into the mold cavity of the injection moldingM.

Furthermore, in order to permit the injection molding unit S to belifted from the stationary mold carrier 34, or respectively to permitsuch to be deposited on said mold carrier, at least one nozzle movingdrive 42, which is axis-parallel to the injection axis s—s, is providedas the fourth driving group 400. As in the embodiment, a plurality ofdrives may also be provided here.

If the plasticized material injected into the mold cavity is hardened,it is ejected as a molding via an ejector unit 24, which is disposed atany desirable location within the injection molding machine, but mainlyin the injection axis s—s on the mold closing side. However, the ejectorunit 24 may also be configured as a core puller. The drive for ejectorunit 24, or respectively core puller, is effected via a sixth drivinggroup 600.

Finally, a seventh driving group 700 is provided, via which a nozzleneedle 51 is actuatable via a rod assembly 50, in order to close thenozzle mouth 52 a if necessary in the case of a closure nozzle.

Multifunctional elements may be distributed over the injection moldingmachine. At least one of the driving groups 100,200,300,400,500,600,700is connected to the injection molding machine via at least one of thesemultifunctional elements. In this respect, the multifunctional elementserves as the interface for the connection of different drive types. Itselectively permits the connection of at least two different drivetypes, such as, for example, electromechanical drives, hydraulic drives,pneumatic drives, linear motor drives or electromagnetic drives. Byusing these multifunctional elements, it is possible for the rest of theinjection molding machine to remain unchanged as far as possible. Themodularity can be completed thereby, so that compliance with the wishesof individual customers can be achieved more rapidly. At the same time,the customer himself can exchange drive types in a short time dependingon the intended purpose of use and adapt such to the particularrequirements. For such purpose, sufficient space on the injectionmolding machine is made available for the driving groups100,200,300,400,500,600,700, irrespective of the particular drive, toaccommodate any drive type. Furthermore, the multifunctional elementsare so dimensioned that they also satisfy the various loadings which theindividual drive types bring with them.

This explained more detailed hereinafter with reference to variousExamples.

FIG. 1 illustrates a purely hydraulic injection molding unit. Thisinjection molding unit is also shown in FIG. 2 partially in enlargedcross-section. An injection cylinder 60, with cylinder chambers 61 and62, serves as the injecting means as the fifth driving group 500. Thisinjecting cylinder is closed by cylinder covers 63 and 64, which slidealong the cylinder 27 of a nozzle moving unit of the fourth drivinggroup 400. By actuating the cylinder chambers 61, 62 with hydraulicmedium or pneumatically, the injection bridge 14′ is moved along theinjection axis s—s, whereby the feeding means 12 is axially moved in theplasticizing cylinder 11 during this movement. The plasticizing cylinder11 is detachably mounted on the carrier block 10, and the cylinder 27 isalso secured to said block. The cylinder 27 is coaxially penetrated bybars 31, which simultaneously carry the piston 30 for the fourth drivinggroup 400 of the nozzle moving drives. In this respect, a known fullyhydraulic embodiment is involved up to now, wherein the injectingcylinder and nozzle moving drive are disposed coaxially with each other.

The injection bridge 14′carries centrally a rotation transmittingelement 46 which, together with the injection bridge 14′, is configuredas the multifunctional element for the third driving group 300. Therotation transmitting element 46 serves to transmit the rotation of ametering drive 41, which serves to prepare the material which is to beprocessed and, in addition, rotates the feeding means, which isconfigured as a feeding screw. The rotation transmitting element 46 issituated in a recess 14 a′ of the injection bridge 14′ and is rotatablymounted there via bearings 15 and also secured in the axial direction.

On its rear side, the rotation transmitting element 46 has a recess 46a, in which the drive shaft 41 a of the metering drive 41 engages foroperative connection. In FIG. 2, the metering drive is an hydraulicrotary motor, but an electrically operated high-torque motor may also beused instead, as in FIG. 3. In this respect, both motors engage with thesame recess 46 a, which is clearly apparent in FIG. 1.

While, in FIG. 4, the fifth driving group 500 and the fourth drivinggroup 400 are hydraulically constructed, and the nozzle movement iseffected by actuating the cylinder chambers 28 and 29, a transmissionhousing 47 is now disposed on a portion 46 b of the rotationtransmitting element 46. The recess 46 a has no function here. Theportion 46 b protrudes forwardly from the injection bridge 14′, so thatthe transmission housing 47, with the associated transmission, can beconnected there. The drive is effected via a metering drive 41′. In suchcase, the portion 46 b clearly shows the principle pursued here. From aconstructive point of view, not only is the portion 46 b provided forthe connection of the transmission, but the space is also provided onthe injection molding machine, so that the elements of the differentdrive types can be accommodated at any time.

The structure of transmission and metering motor 41′ of the thirddriving group 300 is found in FIGS. 5 to 7. According to FIGS. 6 and 7,the metering motor 41′ drives the pinion 72 with a drive shaft 41 a′.The pinion 72 is mounted in the transmission housing with the spindle 72a and has, on the same spindle, a smaller pinion 72 b, which meshes withthe pinion 71. According to FIG. 5, the pinion 71 is also mounted in thetransmission housing 47 with its spindle 71 a. The pinion 71 meshes withthe pinion 70, which is connected to the rotation transmitting element46 according to FIG. 5. In order to effect the connection between thetransmission and servomotor instead of the metering drives 41, themetering motor 41 has to be removed from the recess 46 a with its driveshaft 41 a. Then the locking mechanism 45, which locks the rotationtransmitting element 46 with the feeding means 12, has to be removed sothat the transmission can be flange-mounted, possibly together with theservomotor, in the portion 46 b.

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the metering driveand, above all, the injection means 43. Here, the injection bridge 14 isprovided as the multifunctional element for the fifth assembly 500 andincludes an abutment face 14 a. According to FIG. 8, this abutment facemay serve as an abutment for a pressure transmitting element, which isconfigured as the injecting means 43. The pressure transmitting elementis supported on a support 18. According to FIG. 8, the support 18 issituated at one end of the cylinder 27, while the carrier block isdisposed at the other end of the cylinder 27, so that a framework offorces is formed via the cylinder 27, and the injecting means 43 issupported via said framework.

In FIG. 8, an hydraulic or a pneumatic piston 49 is provided as theinjecting means 43. This piston is guided in a cup-like recess 18 a ofthe support 18. If the hydraulic chamber 48 there is actuated, thepiston 49 is pressed in the direction towards the carrier block, wherebyit transmits its force, via the recess 14 a, to the injection bridgewhich transmits this force to the feeding means 12. An electromotor isprovided as the metering driver 41′ and drives, via a transmission, theadditional driving element 20 which is mounted in the injection bridgevia bearings 15. A first driving element 19, which has no function here,is provided in the injection bridge 14. It is apparent that the cylinder27 serves as a guide means only for the injection bridge 14 and thesupport 18, without additional cylinders being interposed, as in FIGS. 1to 7.

FIG. 9 differs from FIG. 8 because of the fact that an electromechanicaldrive 16 is provided as the injecting means 43, as known from the priorGerman Patent Application 197 31 883.9. The cup-like recess 18 a of thesupport 18 supports a part of the electromechanical spindle drive. Therotatable part of this drive, co-operating with this non-rotatable part,is mounted on the injection bridge 14. A threaded tube 16 b comes to liein the cup-like recess and co-operates with a spindle head 16 c, thespindle head 16 c being disposed on the end of a linear moving means 16a. This linear moving means 16 a penetrates the pressure transmittingelement, which is configured as pressure tube 26, coaxially and isdriven via the first driving element 19, the drive being effected via anelectromotor of the fifth driving group 500. Planets 16 d are disposedbetween spindle head 16 c and threaded tube 16 b. The pressure tube 26,which is mounted in the recess 14 a of the injection bridge, immerses inthe threaded tube 16 b in any position so that the impression of apiston-and-cylinder unit is given externally. This contributes towardsprotecting the drive unit from contaminants and permits constantlubrication to be introduced. Threaded tube 16 b and spindle headcommunicate with each other via planets 16 d. Pressure tube 26 andthreaded tube 16 b are indirectly connected via an axial bearing element40. The forces, which occur during injection, are therefore nottransmitted to the driving element 19 via the linear moving means 16 a,but are transmitted from the threaded tube 16 b to the spindle head 16 cvia the planets 16 d. The spindle head passes these forces to the axialbearing element 40, so that the pressure tube becomes the pressuretransmitting element. The flux of force passes to the additional drivingelement 20 and the feeding means 12 via injection bridge 14, bearingelement 17 and first driving element 19, via the axial bearing element21. In consequence, the dimensions of the linear moving means 16 a mustbe adapted only to the rotational forces and no longer to thetransmission of pressure.

As explained in the prior patent application, the first driving element19 and the additional driving element 20 are disposed coaxially witheach other. If both driving elements are used according to FIG. 9, theaxial bearing element 21 simultaneously serves as the force transmittingelement and separating means between the two driving elements, which aredriven at different times by their respective drives, metering motor 41″or respectively electromotor of the fifth assembly 500. With regard toadvantage and further structure of the arrangement, reference is made tothe prior German Patent Application 197 31 883.9, the disclosed contentof which in this respect is also expressly made the subject-matter ofthe present application.

FIG. 10 differs from FIG. 9 because of the fact that the cylinder 27 isthe primary element of a linear motor. A secondary element is disposedon the bar 31 as the nozzle moving drive 42. By appropriately actuatingthe primary element, a movement of the primary element relative to thesecondary element is effected, and so is the nozzle movement. Acomparison between FIGS. 2, 9 and 10 shows that only the cylinder needsto be appropriately exchanged for different drive types, with thecylinder covers 32, 33 remaining identical. If the various volumes ofthe hydraulic chambers 61, 62 are omitted in FIG. 2, and if the cylinderwere prepared therefor, possibly to be used as the primary element of alinear motor, the cylinder 27 no longer needs to be exchanged basically.Depending on the intended purpose of use, the cylinder 27 serves, likethe cylinder covers 32, 33, as the multifunctional element for thefourth assembly 400, said multifunctional element serving either on theinside as the cylinder for an hydraulic annular piston 30 or as a wallfor the secondary element 75 of the linear motor. On the outside, thecylinder may be configured as the multifunctional element for the fifthassembly 500, and it serves as the guide means for the injection bridge14, 14′, or it is possibly the piston rod of an hydraulic injectingmeans 43.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate different embodiments of a plasticizing unitwith a closure nozzle. The plasticizing unit P has a plasticizingcylinder 11, in which the feeding means 12 is accommodated. Theplasticizing unit is detachably mounted on the carrier block 10, thedriving mechanism for the closure nozzle remaining on the plasticizingcylinder during separation. According to FIG. 11, the nozzle needle 51is actuated via a rod assembly 50 and a pivotal lever 55. The nozzlebody 52 is connected to the plasticizing cylinder 11 via a connectionsleeve 53. A nozzle insert 54 is disposed in the nozzle body 52. Thenozzle mouth 52 a lies in the injection axis s—s. In FIG. 11, the rodassembly 50 terminates at a connection point 50 a, whereby it issecurable on an hydraulic piston-and-cylinder unit. However, a housingwall 80 is provided in FIG. 11 and is changed with the plasticizingcylinder 11. The rod assembly 50 penetrates this housing wall 80. InFIG. 12, this housing wall is used, for example, as the housing of ahollow-shaft motor, which actuates the rod assembly 50′electromechanically via a rolling thread drive 84. The rod assembly 50′is replaced by rod assembly 50. A comparison of the two illustrationshows that all of the elements are provided for the connection of ahollow-shaft motor or another electrical motor, so that only rodassembly and driving group need to be exchanged in order, for example,to achieve a conversion to clean-room conditions for the customer.

The desired modularity can also be achieved on the mold closing side atthe mold closing unit F. According to FIGS. 13 and 14, the movable moldcarrier 13 is configured as the multifunctional element for the firstand second driving groups 100, 200. The mold closing unit is supportedon the machine base 35 via bearing elements 88. The closing mechanism Cis connected to the stationary mold carrier 34 via the guide bars 86.The closing mechanism C moves the movable mold carrier 13 which, in theembodiments, is connected to a first supporting element 25 either via athreaded tube 89 or via the cylinder 110 to form an elongate unit ofmovement in the form of a framework of forces. Hydraulic driving groupsare controlled from an hydraulic block 87. In the fully hydraulicembodiment according to FIG. 13, the movable mold carrier 13 has arecess 13 a. The piston rod 111 of the first assembly 100 is mounted atthe base of this recess to move the movable mold carrier 13 for moldclosure. In this case, the recess 13 a is part of a pressure chamberwithin the cylinder 110. The first driving group 100 is simultaneouslythe piston rod 111 of the arrangement for applying the closing force ofthe second driving group 200. It carries the piston 90, which hasoverflow channels which are closed by a valve piston 91, the movement ofwhich is limited by a boundary element 92.

In FIG. 14, however, the driving groups are electromechanical.Nevertheless, the hydraulic block 87, the additional supporting element85, the guide bars 86 and, above all, the movable mold carrier 13 areretained. Whereas, in FIG. 13, the cylinder 110 of the second assembly200 is secured on the edge of the recess 13 a to apply the closingforce, the recess 13 a with an abutment face 1 3 b serves as theabutment for a threaded tube 89 in FIG. 14. This threaded tubecommunicates with planets 96, which are driven by a spindle head 95. Thedrive is effected via a drive rod 94, which rotates in a freelydisplaceable manner in a pressure tube 93. Even during movement, theoutward appearance is of a piston-and-cylinder unit. The closing forcemay be applied in a manner which is not illustrated in the drawing, e.g.by a short-stroke cylinder which co-operates with the additionalsupporting element 85.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the sixth driving group 600 of the ejectorunit 24. In FIG. 13, two hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units aredisposed around an equalizing cylinder 112 and actuate the ejector unit24 which may also be configured as the core puller. It is precisely inthis embodiment that either electromechanical spindle drives may be usedinstead of the hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units or, for example, thesurface of the equalizing cylinder 112 may be simultaneously used as theprimary element of a linear motor, a sleeve, which is connected to theejector 24, being able to be the secondary element in a manner which isnot illustrated in the drawing. If the equalizing cylinder is eliminatedwith the hydraulic solution, the ejector unit 24 may also be disposeddirectly on the movable mold carrier 13 according to FIG. 14. Theejector unit 24 is configured as an independent structural unit, asknown from WO-A 97/12741, the disclosed content of which is hereby madeexpressly the subject-matter of the present application in this respect.In such case, the drive is a hollow-shaft motor which accommodates theactuating element therein, this ejector unit being usable as theunscrewing arrangement or as the core puller by appropriate rotationtransmitting elements. Any other desirable ejector may also be usedinstead of such an ejector, provided that it is ensured thatcommunication with the movable mold carrier 13 is possible.

FIG. 15 illustrates the use of an electromechanical drive unit as thefirst assembly 100 and the use of an hydraulic unit as the driving group200. The structure corresponds to the structure in the prior PatentApplication 197 50 057.9. The closing mechanism C drives the drive rod94 via a belt drive 81. The drive rod 91 terminates at the spindle head95, which communicates with a threaded tube 89 via planets 96. The endface of the threaded tube 89 is closed by a closure element 97, so thatthe impression of a piston-and-cylinder unit is also given here sincethe threaded elements are invisible externally. The movable mold carrieris divided into the parts 13′ and 13″ in order to permit the belt drive81 to be accommodated therebetween. The first driving group 100 bringsthe injection mold M for mold closure. By connecting the second drivinggroup, the first driving group 100 comes to abut with its rotatableelement 94 whilst reducing the spacing a. This may occur at any timeduring the movement as a result of the switching chamber 98 beingactuated by pressure, so that the additional supporting element 85,which is a piston here, presses the bearing sleeve 83 in FIG. 15 to theleft. When the first driving group 100 is actuated, the movable moldcarrier 13′, 13″ is moved to any desirable gap between the mold halvesor to the mold closure, a force and, hence, a deformation beinginitiated at the latest when the two halves of the mold abut againsteach other, such deformation leading to an earlier or later reduction inthe spacing a for the abutment of the pressure tube 93 against thespindle head 95 in dependence on the ratio of forces between theswitching chamber 98 and the pressure chamber 98. This abutment preventsfurther rotation. The pressure chamber 99 is mainly actively connectedat any desirable location so that, irrespective of whether a moldclosure has already been achieved or not, the switching chamber 98 isactively or passively unloaded. The pressure tube 93 is connected to theadditional supporting element 85, which is configured as the piston. Theposition of the pressure tube can be influenced by the pressure in theswitching chamber 98. With regard to the additional structure and themode of operation of this arrangement, reference is made to theabove-mentioned prior German patent application.

To summarize, therefore, the following variable driving systems may beprovided on an injection molding machine, this list making no claim tobeing complete.

1. Side of the injection molding unit

a) Metering (rotation)

hydraulically with hydraulic motor (radially, axially, toothed wheel,torque)

electrically with a constant motor or closed-loop controlled motor andtransmission

b) Injection (translation)

hydraulically with cylinder

electrically with conversion of rotation to translation

pneumatically with cylinder

electrically with linear motor

c) Move nozzle (translation)

hydraulically with cylinder

electrically with conversion of rotation to translation

pneumatically with cylinder

electrically with linear motor

d) Close nozzle (translation

hydraulically with cylinder

pneumatically with cylinder

electromagnet

electromotor rotation to translation

electrically via linear motor

2. Mold closing side.

a) Move mold (translation)

hydraulically with cylinder via toggle lever or directly

electrically with conversion of rotation to translation

linear motor

b) Closing force with high pressure (translation)

hydraulically with cylinder via toggle lever or directly

electrically with toggle lever or eccentric

c) Ejector (translation)

hydraulically with cylinder

pneumatically with cylinder

electrically with conversion of rotation to translation

electrical linear motor

3. General

a) Core pullers like ejectors

b) Protective door like ejector

It is self-evident that this description may be subjected to the mostvaried modifications, changes and adaptations, which range fromequivalents to the dependent claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Injection molding machine for processing plasticsmaterials and other plasticisable materials, having a modular structurecomprising a plurality of driving groups, said machine comprising: amachine base, a mold closing unit comprising a stationary mold carrierconnected to the machine base, a movable mold carrier, which provides amold clamping chamber between itself and the stationary mold carrier. atleast one injection mold, the mold parts of which can be accommodated inthe mold clamping chamber on the stationary mold carrier and on themovable mold carrier, a closing mechanism serving as a first drivinggroup for moving the movable mold carrier towards the stationary moldcarrier and away from said stationary mold carrier so as to close theinjection mold, and force transmitting means for transmittingsubstantially the closing force from the closing mechanism to thestationary mold carrier, and an injection molding unit, comprising aplasticizing unit, which comprises a plasticizing cylinder and a feedingmeans, which is accommodated in the plasticizing cylinder, as well as anozzle mouth on the end face, which mouth lies in an injection axis, acarrier block which is disposed on the machine base so as to bedisplaceable along the injection axis, and on which block theplasticizing unit is detachably mounted, an injection bridge, a meteringdrive for the feeding means of the plasticizing unit serving as a seconddriving group, which is connectable to the injection bridge, at leastone nozzle moving drive, which is axis-parallel to the injection axis,as a third driving group for moving the nozzle mouth towards theinjection mold and away from said mold, and at least one injectingmeans, which is axis-parallel to the injection axis, as a fourth drivinggroup for the movement of the feeding means relative to the plasticizingcylinder, wherein at least one of the first, second, third and fourthdriving groups is connectable to the injection molding machine via atleast one multifunctional element, which serves as an interfaceselectively for the connection of at least two different drive typesselected from the group consisting of electromechanical drives,hydraulic drives, pneumatic drives, linear motors and electromagneticdrives as the driving gruop with an otherwise unchanged injectionmolding machine, whereby space is made available for the first, second,third and fourth driving groups, independently of the particular drive,on the injection molding machine for accommodating each type of drive.2. Injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the closingmechanism comprises a first supporting element for support purposes, andan arrangement, which is also connectable to the injection moldingmachine via a multifunctional element, for applying the closing force isprovided as a fifth driving group, as soon as the first driving grouphas transferred the movable mold carrier to achieve the closure of theinjection mold.
 3. Injection molding machine according to claim 1,wherein an ejector unit is provided as a fifth driving group, which isalso connectable to one of the mold carriers via the multifunctionalelement.
 4. Injection molding machine according to claim 3, wherein theejector unit, acting as a core puller, communicating with themultifunctional element, which communicates with the ejector unit. 5.Injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein a drive for anozzle needle of a closable nozzle body is provided as a fifth drivinggroup, which drive is also connectable to the injection molding machinevia the multifunctional element.
 6. Injection molding machine accordingto claim 1, wherein, on the side of the injection molding unit, theinjection bridge and a rotation transmitting element, which is rotatablymounted herein, for transmitting the rotation of a metering drive forthe second driving group are configured as multifunctional elements. 7.Injection molding machine according to claim 6, wherein the rotationtransmitting element has a recess, in which the drive shaft of themetering drive engages for the operative connection, the metering drivebeing an hydraulic rotary motor or an electrically operated high-torquemotor.
 8. Injection molding machine according to claim 6, wherein aportion of the rotation transmitting element protrudes from theinjection bridge, to which a transmission housing, with an associatedtransmission, is connectable which transmission is driven by themetering drive.
 9. Injection molding machine according to claim 1,wherein the injection bridge has an abutment face serving as themultifunctional element for the fourth driving group, which face servesas an abutment for a pressure transmitting element, which is configuredas the injecting means and is supported on a support that communicateswith the injection bridge, said pressure transmitting element preferablybeing hydraulically or electromechanically displaceable as the injectingmeans.
 10. Injection molding machine according to claim 9, wherein thesupport has a cup-like recess, which either forms a cylinder chamber forthe injecting means, which is configured as a piston, or accommodates anon-rotatable part of an electromechanical spindle drive, whichco-operates with a rotatable part mounted on the injection bridge. 11.Injection molding machine according to claim 10, wherein there isnon-rotatably accommodated in the cup-like recess of the support athreaded tube which co-operates with a spindle head, the spindle headbeing disposed on the end of a linear moving means, which centrallypenetrates the pressure transmitting element, configured as a tube, andwhich is rotatable via a first driving element disposed in the injectionbridge.
 12. Injection molding machine according to claim 11, wherein afifth driving element, which is coaxial with the first driving elementfor the injecting means, is disposed in the injection bridge for therotation of the feeding means.
 13. Injection molding machine accordingto claim 12, wherein there is provided between first driving element andthe fifth driving element an axial bearing element which, on the onehand, serves as the force transmitting element and, on the other hand,serves as the separating means between the first and fifth drivingelements.
 14. Injection molding machine according to claim 1, whereincylinder covers, which are disposed on guide bars configured as theforce transmitting means, are configured as the multifunctional elementfor the third driving groups, which covers accommodate therebetween acylinder, which is configured either as a cylinder for an hydraulicannular piston or as a wall for a secondary element of a linear motor.15. Injection molding machine according to claim 14, wherein thecylinder of the third driving group is configured on the outside as themultifunctional element for the fourth driving group and serves as aguide for the injection bridge.
 16. Injection molding machine accordingto claim 15, wherein the cylinder is a piston rod for an hydraulicinjecting means.
 17. Injection molding machine according to claim 5,wherein a housing wall is mounted on the carrier block as themultifunctional element for the attachment of the fifth driving groupfor actuating the nozzle needle, which wall is either penetrated by afirst rod assembly for actuating the nozzle needle when an hydraulicactuation is effected, or is operatively connected to a second rodassembly via a rolling thread drive, the housing wall serving as thehousing for said drive.
 18. Injection molding machine according to claim1, wherein the movable mold carrier has, as the multifunctional elementfor the first and fifth driving groups, a recess which either has a basesupporting a threaded tube of an electromechanical drive or accommodatesa part of an hydraulic piston, a cylinder of said piston being securedon the edge of the recess.
 19. Injection molding machine according toclaim 2, wherein there is disposed between the first supporting elementand movable mold carrier a second supporting element as themultifunctional element, which is actuatable via a switching chamberactuatable with hydraulic medium, the switching chamber permitting themovement of the first driving group when it is under pressure, while theswitching chamber blocks the movement of the first driving group whenthe switching chamber is free of pressure, the pressure of the hydraulicmedium in the switching chamber being connectable in exactly the sameway as the fifth driving group.